Homebrew Competition

I decided to enter my first homebrew.  It was mainly because I had to stop at my local homebrew supply shop and they just happened to be a drop off point for the competition.

I entered two beers into the Stoney Creek Homebrewers Amateur Brewing Championship.  The first was in category 10a, American Pale Ale.  I entered "Nierra Sevada" a Sierra Nevada session clone.  It is hopped with Pearl and Cascade hops, but is slightly lower in ABV than its namesake.  The second beer was a Chocolate Hazelnut Porter, this is a Jamil Zainasheff recipe.  This beer has cocoa nibs added at the end of the boil and hazelnut extract added at kegging.

I ended up taking 3rd for the Chocolate Hazelnut Porter in category 23, Specialty Beer.  This, being the first competition I've entered, is also my first prize I've taken for a beer.  I received a bronze metal for the porter, a t-shirt and got my score sheets back.

The score sheets are great!  The judges give you feedback on each of your entries.  I was very glad to hear the recommendations to add more late hop additions to my Nierra Sevada and that the Choc. Hazelnut Porter could be improved by cutting back on the hazelnut extract.  The positive feedback alone is worth entering... the metal is pretty cool too.